Free Shipping on all orders $35 and up

We offer standard delivery in 3 business days or less.

Delivery time estimates do not apply to large or heavy items that require special shipping
(including most TVs), items shipped directly from the manufacturer, or out-of-stock items.
Some items that ship from the manufacturer can only be delivered to addresses within the 48
contiguous states.

Delivery time for standard shipping to any of the 50 U.S. states or Puerto Rico is 1-3 business days. Saturday, Sunday and national holidays are not considered business days for delivery purposes.

Estimated standard delivery time to the U.S. and Puerto Rico

Best car stereos for 2018

Take a peek at our best-sellers and customer favorites

I began my Crutchfield career in 1997 as a Sales Advisor, helping customers find the gear that best fit their needs. Ever since Dad purchased a stereo system from Crutchfield in the '80s, I've been interested in electronics. My passion for movies and music also fueled my desire to get the most out of the gear I hook up. Good gear adds to the impact and emotion.

In 2013, I moved to the Creative department as a copywriter for the mobile electronics division, possibly because of the suggestions I constantly sent them. This great move also let me learn more about the gear we sell. And as part of our Demo Days crew, I get to share this knowledge with Advisors so they can better help you.

Now is a great time to consider a new car stereo for your ride. Not only do you get performance upgrades and expandability over factory radios, but stereo makers are incorporating a variety of ways of connecting to your phone, including navigation, streaming music, and remote control apps.

As a starting point, here are seven models which have delivered high customer satisfaction ratings. After reading this article, if you want a deeper dive into what to look for when shopping for a new car stereo, check out our car stereo buying guide.

What makes these favorites?

We looked at our best-selling stereos, which also earned an average Crutchfield customer rating of 4 (or more) stars*. That means that our customers took the time to provide some feedback once they've spent some time with the stereo.

What you need to know: This Pioneer offers a 6.2" touchscreen display with user-friendly icon controls, as well as multi-color options that let you seemlessly integrate the stereo with your dash lighting. You can wire in your smartphone or take advantage of this stereo's built-in Bluetooth.

Phone integration features: This stereo's rear USB port will charge your iPhone or Android, as well as let you play and control the music on your phone. Its built-in Bluetooth can be paired to two different phones simultaneously. You can take hands-free calls and stream music wirelessly from either.

Audio/Video features: To back up their heritage of great sound, Pioneer included a 13-band equalizer and digital time alignment to ensure your listening position is the best position. Preamp outputs let you add amplifiers for more power and oomph from your sound. You can also feed video to additional backseat screens. There's even a video input for a backup camera.

Great sound, easy to use interface, the bluetooth connect easily and calls sound clearly.

What you need to know: This eye-catching receiver turned a lot of heads when Anthony, one of our Advisors, installed it in his car for a product review. Besides amazing media options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this big-screen beauty offers some installation versatility. Its single-DIN chassis fits many vehicles, and you can set the angle and height of the protruding display to get the optimal positioning on your dash. The Alpine stereo delivers great sound, especially when customized using the sound-sculpting capabilities of Alpine's TuneIt™ app.

Phone integration features: Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto top the phone integration features on the iLX-F309, so you can quickly access your favorite music and navigation apps. This Alpine's big 9" touchscreen display looks just like your phone's display, so there's no learning curve. If you don't want to always plug in, you can also use this receiver's built-in Bluetooth to wirelessly stream music and take calls hands-free.

Audio/Video features: In addition to compatibility with Alpine's TuneIt app, the iLX-F309 features a 9-band parametric EQ and digital time correction to refine your sound. You can add a backup camera for added safety. The stereo also works with iDatalink's Maestro RR interface for select vehicles, which lets you integrate lots of factory functionality, some of which you'll see on the stereo's display.

What you need to know: We sell several stereo options for vintage cars, but this one is easily the most popular. RetroSound's Hermosa infuses the venerable shaft-style radio design with modern features, like Bluetooth, a USB port, and a switchable color display. It's old-school shaft system make it a great choice for folks who want to add modern conveniences to classic older vehicles.

Phone integration features: The Hermosa includes Bluetooth for hands-free calling and wireless music streaming from your phone or tablet.

Customization features: What's so cool about the Hermosa and other RetroSound receivers is their ability to blend into the dash of vintage rides. Its "Infinimount" shaft and bracket system enables the Hermosa to fit in a variety of vehicles with different shaft spacing. You can choose from black, chrome, or ivory options to match your vehicle or just make a statement. It even has three vintage screen protectors to give it that look of yesteryear.

Very satisfied with this stereo. Installed it in my 72 Cutlass and it fit like a glove. Instructions were simple and easy to follow. Sound quality is great. USB and Bluetooth worked perfectly. Pairing the unit with my phone took seconds.

What you need to know: This receiver's slim, single-DIN chassis fits in lots of vehicles. JVC outfitted it with lots of features for the money, including Bluetooth, a USB port for music and smartphone integration, and the ability to control the receiver with JVC's free Remote app.

Phone integration features: Bluetooth connectivity provides hands-free streaming and calling, and two phones can be paired at the same time. You can also plug your phone into the USB port to control and listen to music, and charge your device. If you're into Internet Radio, you can enjoy your favorite playlists and explore new music on Spotify™, iHeartRadio™, and Pandora™.

Audio features: This stereo's USB port is compatible with all kinds of music files, even FLAC files. JVC's K2 Technology restores the depth that's often missing from compressed music files, and digital time alignment ensures that all that sound reaches your ears at the same time. A 13-band EQ lets you tweak the sound to your heart's content.

What you need to know: This mech-less (no CD player), double-DIN receiver offers wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to create an interface that's just like your phone. All of your navigation, music, and phone apps are shown off and controlled on its big 6.95" touchscreen display.

Phone integration features: In addition to the phone integration mentioned above, this Sony stereo includes Bluetooth for wireless convenience. You can also listen to and control your favorite Pandora and Spotify stations.

Audio/Video features: Much like their famous flat-panel TVs, Sony went with a brilliant bezel-less display on this receiver that almost disappears into the dash. Its 10-band EQ lets you get just your right sound, while the five preamp outputs enable you to add amplifiers for your speakers and a sub. There's even an input for a rear-view camera — great for tight parking spots. Two rear USB ports let you hook up a phone and a USB drive full of music simultaneously.

What you need to know: This 4" tall JVC car stereo includes lots of ways to get the music going in your vehicle. You can play your library of music or tap into a variety of radio options. Its customizable lighting helps it blend nicely into your dash, while big buttons are easy to get to while your eyes are on the road.

Phone integration features: You can pair two phones simultaneously for hands-free calling, and for wireless music streaming via Bluetooth. You can pair up to five phones for the ultimate road trip playlist. Internet radio control options include Pandora, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Audio features: This JVC offers an option for adding the SiriusXM SXV300V1 satellite radio tuner to give you even more spontaneous radio goodness. Its USB port can handle FLAC files up to 24-bit/96 kHz, so bring along that high-res library. JVC also includes a 13-band equalizer with eleven presets for quick changes on the fly.

Awesome stereo & it sounds great! I chose this model mainly because of the larger buttons and volume dial... It has a lot of features for sound adjustment and I like how you can adjust the brightness and color of the display.

What you need to know: This Kenwood Excelon car stereo includes wireless Android Auto for select Android phones, plus ways to get other phones involved as well. You can also go wireless with Bluetooth. The number of media options and the in-depth sound-shaping abilities really make this stereo one of the top multimedia in-dash options out there. Its 6.75" HD touchscreen is sharp and easy to see in all types of lighting conditions.

Phone integration features: In addition to thorough smartphone integration via Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and WebLink, you can link multiple phones wirelessly via Bluetooth and play Internet radio DJ using the controls on the big screen.

Audio features: Speaking of radio, you also get a built-in HD Radio™ tuner and an option for SiriusXM satellite radio when adding a SiriusXM SXV300V1 satellite radio tuner. Its USB port steps up to 24-bit/192 kHz high-res FLAC files for even the most critical ears. Other upgrades include the 5-volt preamp outputs, so your external amplifiers get a super-clean signal. And this Kenwood's deep sound processing and tone controls are a sound tweaker's dream.

Installed the DDX9905S in my 2015 GMC Acadia Denali using idatalink products and I'm blown away by this receiver! The menu and interface is very smooth. Screen is beautiful and boot up time is fast. Works great with the rear seat entertainment system with dual zones!

This installed Sony XAV-AX5000 shows off its sharp display and lets you get to your music quickly.

With the right car stereo, even the longest road trip can be fun

If you're ready to make the move to better sound, phone integration, and smooth controls, there are a few things to keep in mind:

How much do you want to spend? There's certainly a balance between your budget, the features you want, and the look you're going for in your dash. Using the filters we've installed in our selection of car stereos, you can set a particular budget range that works for you.

What features are must-haves? In addition to the filter for budget, you can also filter the most common features for car stereos. This lets you quickly focus in on the stereos that give you want you want, like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, and more.

What fits your car? You'll need to pick a stereo that fits the dash of your car. For some newer vehicles, replacing the factory receiver might be impossible because of climate controls or other design elements. However, the majority of vehicles in our database work with double-DIN (4" tall) or single-DIN (2" tall) radios. Receivers without a disc player (known as digital media receivers) are especially easy to fit due to their shallow depth. Use our vehicle selector tool to refine your choices.